Inter Miami going to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi is heading to the Club World Cup next year.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced Saturday night that Inter Miami will play in the tournament, something that had been long expected given Messi's enormous popularity around the world and how the tournament already planned on some matches in South Florida.

The event, which is set to be played every four years, includes 32 teams from FIFA’s six soccer confederations. Inter Miami will play in the tournament opener, scheduled for June 15, 2025 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

“I am proud to announce that as one of the best clubs in the world, you are deserved participants in the new FIFA Club World Cup 2025 as the host club representing the United States,” Infantino said in an on-field ceremony after Inter Miami broke Major League Soccer's mark for most points in a regular season.

The tournament runs through July 13, with the final scheduled for New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium — also the site of the 2026 World Cup final. So far, the Club World Cup has drawn no major U.S. sponsors and there is not a media rights deal in place.

Other U.S. sites that will play host to the Club World Cup are Atlanta, Cincinnati, Nashville, Charlotte, Orlando, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Washington and Seattle.

Twelve teams from Europe will be included in the Club World Cup. They are Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, Real Madrid and Salzburg.

Other teams that have qualified include Boca Juniors, Flamengo, Fluminense, Palmeiras and River Plate from South America; Leon, Monterrey, Pachuca and the Seattle Sounders from North America; Al Ahly, Esperance, Mamelodi Sundowns and Wydad from Africa; Al-Hilal, Al Ain, Ulsan and Urawa from Asia; and Auckland City from Oceania.

Inter Miami becomes the 31st team in the field. The last will be determined on Nov. 30 at the CONMEBOL Libertadores final in Buenos Aires. The tournament draw is in December.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

A view of the MARCA America Award presented to Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi and created by artist Carlos Benavides at Chase Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald via AP)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi walks onto the field before an MLS soccer match against the New England Revolution, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

MONTREAL (AP) — Caden Clark had a goal and an assist in the first half, Josef Martínez scored his 11th goal of the season and Montreal beat New York City FC 2-0 on Saturday night to secure a playoff spot.

Montreal (11-13-10) locked up the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference with 43 points and will host No. 9 Atlanta in a wild card match for a chance to meet Inter Miami in round one. It's Montreal’s second postseason trip since 2016 and first under head coach Laurent Courtois.

Martínez was left wide open at the top of the box for a pass that he let a past him to reach Clark at the back post for a one-time finish in the 18th minute.

Then in first-half stoppage time, Clark had it poked away from behind but he raced down the sideline to track it down. He got inside position on a defender as he dribbled into the box for a rolling pass to Martínez in front of goal for a sliding finish.

NYCFC (14-12-8) will face Cincinnati in a best-of-three series.

AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer

CF Montreal's Raheem Edwards, left, challenges New York City FC's Hannes Wolf during first half MLS soccer action in Montreal, Saturday, October 19, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

CF Montreal's Gabriele Corbo, left, defends against New York City FC's Alonso Martínez (16) during first half MLS soccer action in Montreal, Saturday, October 19, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

CF Montreal's George Campbell, left, clears the ball as New York City FC's Kevin O'Toole, right, moves in during first half MLS soccer action in Montreal, Saturday, October 19, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

CF Montreal's Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, left, challenges New York City FC's Kevin O'Toole during first half MLS soccer action in Montreal, Saturday, October 19, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

CF Montreal's Caden Clark (right) challenges New York City FC's Hannes Wolf (17) during first half MLS soccer action in Montreal, Saturday, October 19, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois (40) stops New York City FC's Alonso Martinez during first half MLS soccer action in Montreal, Saturday, October 19, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)